Autotruck.



W. J. MUSSER.

AUTOTRUCK.

AFPLICATIQN FILED FEB. 28. 19m.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

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MM/7a 6 66/ W. J. MUSSER.

'AUTOTRUCK.

APPucAnou man FEB. 28. m4.

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-- rat ne iire -z n i Application flledlebruary 38, 1914. Serial No.821,745.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

' Be it known that'I, WILLIAM a citizen of the United States,Zephyrhills,

J. Mnssaa,

in 'the county of Pa sco; State of Florida, have invented certain newanduseful Improvements in Autotrucks; and Iv do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others'skilled in the art to whichit appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to motor vehicles particularly to those of thecom-' 7 between the axles .15 are bracketsv 18 and 19 The object of theinvention resides in the and more mercial type.

PI'OVlSlOIL of a'motor vehicle in which the medium of separate motors,each 0 said axles being mounted to partake of a steer 1ng movement whichis adapted to be imparted thereto simultaneously by the o r-' ation of asteering wheel at either end 0 the vehicle, such a structure beingextremely advantageous inthat it permits the vehicle to be moved out ofa space too small. to permit of turning. 4 A further vobject of theinvention resides in the provision of a motor vehicle of the characterreferred-to in which the use of springs may be dispensed with and amplemovement of theaxle'in a plane extending transversely of the vehiclepermitted to allow for inequalities in the road over which the vehicleis traveling,

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thedetails of construction and in the arrangement and "combination of partsto be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe.appended claims.

In describingthe invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a fragment of a motor vehicle constructed inaccordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a bottomplan view of same; Fig.3, a section on'theline 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section on the line 44of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, and Fig.6, asection on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing A indicates thev frame of the vehicle which suports ateach end transverse plates 10. Pivoted upon a residing at 1 boltorpin 11 from each plate 10 for movement in a plane parallel to theframe Ais a-truck frame 12 havinga V- shaped inner portion 13andsupporting at its outer end a suitablemotor 14. Rotatably mountedoneach truck frame 12 is a sectional axle 15 having incorporated thereina differential 16.. Fixed on the, ends of.each

axle 16 are traction wheelsl7 of anydesired type. -The axles 15 areadapted to be rotated throughlthe medium of connections with theadjacent motor 14. 1

Depending from the sides of the frame A which support. a rod 20,-extending .trans- 'versely of the frame A. 'Shdable on the rod front andrear axles are driven throu h the 20'is a .U-shaped member 21 the. armsof which are provided with tubular terminals end of the other truckframe 12. De ending from the inner ends of the truck ame- 12respectively and pivotally mounted for rotation in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of the frame A are bearings 26. Loosely rotatablein the bearings 26 is a shaft 27 having-an enlarged central portion 28for a purpose that will presently appear. Journaled on the lower end ofthe brackets 18 and 19'and outwardly of the latter are rollers'129 and30 respectively and traveling on these rollers 29 and 30 is an endlesschain 31, saidchain being also entwined about the enlarged centralportion 28 of the shaft 27. By this construction it will be apparentthat as the shaft 27 is rotated the inner ends of the truck frames 12will be moved simultaneously in the same direction. Journaled on'eachtruck frame 12 and extending longitudinally thereof is a. steering shaft32 which is connected to the adjacent end of the shaft 27 by means of auniversal joint .33. Each of the steering shafts 32 is ada ted to berotated through the medium 0 asteering wheel 34 mounted upon a steeringcolumn 35 carried by the corresponding truck frame 12, it being notedthat the steering Wheel 34 is operatively connected with thecorresponding steering shaft 32 in any desired manner.- 7 r i From theforegoing construct1on 1t Wlll beapparent that when either steeringwheel 34 is operated the shafts 27 will be rotated to efiect ivotalmovement of the truck frame 12 and a desired steering movement of theaxles 15. By roviding steering means op erable from eit lier end of thevehicle it will be obvious that the direction'in which the vehicle ismoving can be reversed without the necessity of turning the vehicle.

It will be further apparent that. owing to the pivoted journaledbearings of the shaft 27 and the pivotal mountings of the-stems 23 and25 together with the rotative engagement, of said stems with the truckframes said truck frames can readily move in' a,

plane at right angles to the frame A in res onse to inequalities of theroad over which t e vehicle is traveling,

What is claimed is 1. In a motor vehicle, the combination of, a chassisframe, a truck frame pivoted to each end of said chassis frame formovement in a plane parallel to the chassis frame, wheeled axles carriedb said truck frames respectively, brackets spective sides of the chassisframe, a rod supported by said bracket and dis osed be tween the innerends of the true 5 frames, members slidably engaged on said rod, stemspivoted to said members respectively and slidably en aged in respectivetruck frames, journa ed arings pivoted on respective truck frames, ashaft journaled in said bearings, rollers journaled on said bracketsreepending from respectively, an endless flexible member traveling onsaid rollers and entwined about said shaft whereby the rotation of saidshaft will.

move the. inner ends of the truck frames simiiltaneously in the samedirection, and means operable from either end of thevehicle foreifectingthe rotationof said shaft.

21 In a motor vehicle, the combination of a chassis frame, a truck framepivotedto each end of said chassis frame for movement in a planeparallel to the chassis frame, wheeled axles carried b said truck framesrespectively, brackets epending from. respective sides of the chassisframe, a rod supported by said bracket and disposed between the innerends of the truck frames, members slidably engaged on said rod, stemspivoted to said members respectively and slidably en aged in respectivetruck frames, journa ed arings pivoted on respective truck frames,ashaft journaled in said bearings, rollers journaled on said bracketsrespectively, a steering shaft journaled oneach truck frame, a universaloint connecting each steering shaft with theadjacent end of the firstnamed shaft, and means carried by'each truck frame for eifectin arotation of the correspondin "steering s aft;

In testimony whereof, ailix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM J MUSSER. Witnesses:

Hana! T. Bamn'r, FRANK S. APPLEMAN.

